diff --git a/nb2plots/from_notebook.py b/nb2plots/from_notebook.py
index 754712b..886887e 100644
--- a/nb2plots/from_notebook.py
+++ b/nb2plots/from_notebook.py
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@
 
 
 # Template to label code and output and plot blocks
-dl = DictLoader({'rst_plots.tpl': """\
-{%- extends 'rst.tpl' -%}
+dl = DictLoader({'rst_plots.tpl': r"""\
+{%- extends '__RST_DEFAULT_TEMPLATE__' -%}
 
 {% block input %}
 {%- if cell.source.strip() | has_mpl_inline -%}
@@ -50,7 +50,8 @@
 {{ output.data['text/plain'] | ellipse_mpl | indent }}
 ##END_OUT_END##
 {%- endblock data_text -%}
-"""})
+""".replace('__RST_DEFAULT_TEMPLATE__',
+            nbconvert.RSTExporter().template_file)})
 
 
 def has_mpl_inline(code):